Don’t Leave for This Reason

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:9-14…………….

Feel like leaving something? Or someone? Some job? Some relationship? Some commitment? Some school? Some location? Some house? Some roommate situation? Some part of the country? Some volunteer work? Some church? Some anything or anyone? Feel like leaving? Regardless of the reason, or reasons, do you feel like leaving? Please don’t leave for this reason.

Please don’t leave because of yourself. For yourself. In response to yourself. Please don’t leave because of self. Not because of how you feel. Because of what you see. Because of what you think. Because of you’re opinion. Because of your comfort level. For your peace of mind.

I spent decades making decisions for myself. Following the Lord Jesus Christ isn’t about living for oneself; it’s about living for the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to bear our sins and sin punishment upon Himself and was raised from the dead so all who repent and believe in Him as Lord, truly turning their lives over to Him and living for Him henceforth, are forgiven and given an everlasting relationship with God.

Does this mean Christ followers should never leave something? Or somebody? Or some relationship? No! By no means! It means we should leave IF and WHEN it’s the will of the Lord! It means our decision should be based not on self, but on Christ! It means we should pray to God, study God’s Word to be able to discern His will, be filled with and led by His Holy Spirit, seek godly counsel from fellow Christ followers solidly grounded in God’s Word if and as the Lord leads us, and should decide IF and WHEN and HOW to leave based on the will of and for the glory of the Lord God almighty.

The Lord may well want us to stay to teach us something, to refine us, to bring us and/or others to repentance, to transform us, to use us to bless and serve others, because we made a commitment, because He has a purpose for us there, because He wants to heal us and others where we are, because He’s testing our faith, and/or because He sees the big, whole picture when we can only see a little part of it. On the other hand, the Lord might want us to leave because where we are is unhealthy, unsafe, because He has other plans for us elsewhere, because we’ve learned everything He wanted us to learn where we are, because He never wanted us there in the first place, because the season He wanted us there is over, because He wants to send us elsewhere to help others, because He has a plan and purpose for us in a new location, or a new relationship, or both, because the purpose He had for us where we are is now complete, etc.

When, and why, should we leave then? We should leave when it’s the will of the Lord, when we clearly know it’s His will, and for the Lord and His purpose and glory! If He desires we stay, He will provide everything we need in Christ to do so!

About

Walk by Faith Ministry

Lovingly led by evangelist & author Lara Love as she shares the Gospel while ministering the Lord's love to a world in need. Lara does a combo of writing and publishing books, almost Daily Inspiration online and in print, and Gospel tracts & devotionals; preaching God's Word as the Lord leads her; streets & beach ministry; and providing sanctuary-style care for special needs & senior rescued dogs.